Freight car



M. J. WHELAN.

-FREIGHT CAR. APPLICATIONIHLED NOV. 4, 1919.

Patented July 4, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

MII 'HI HII FREIGHT can.

Application filed November 4, 1919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARTIN J. \VHELAN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Clifton Heights, in the county of Delaware, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Freight Cars; and I do declare the following to be a clear, full, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this application.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in convertible freight cars.

An important object of the invention is to provide the well known type of box car with a roof or top which may be opened the entire length of the'car from either side thereof to facilitate loading of the car.

Another object of the invention is to provide the bottom of the car with chutes or receptacles on either side thereof whereby the closures for the receptacles forming the floor of the car when in a closed position may be swung to extend vertically along the side walls of the car to prevent the contents of the car from exerting too great a pressure upon the side doors of the car.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawings forming a part of the application and wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the several views Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the invention applied to a box car.

Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse section of the same.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section through a portion of the car.

Figure 4: is an enlarged transverse section through an upper corner of the car illustrating the manner of connecting brace rods to the roof thereof.

Figure 5 is a section of the same taken on the line 55 of Figure at, and

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 4t, 192

Serial No. 335,738.

the preferred embodiment of my invention,

the numeral 7 designates a pair of longitudinally extending parallel spaced side sills of the usual type of box car 8, which are connected at their ends by end sills 9.

As most clearly seen in Figure 2 of the drawings, a central longitudinally extending sill 10 is disposed equi-distant between the side sills 7 and forms a substantial support for the sections 11 of the floor of the car, when they are disposed in a closed position as illustrated in Fig. 2. It will be seen that several of these sections 11 constitute the major portion of the floor of the car and a plurality of the sections are hinged as at 12 to the side rails 7 whereby when it is desired to move the car for transporting coal or other loose heavy material the sections may be swung to lie against the side of the car as illustrated in dotted lines and retained in such positions by pins 13 mounted in suitable brackets 14- upon the sides of the car cooperating with recesses 15 in the free ends of the sections or closures ll. lVhen the sections 11 are in an open position it will be seen that the contents of the car will bear against the same and thereby considerable pressure which is ordinarily incurred by the contents bearing upon the side doors of the car is obviated. It will of course be appreciated that the several sections on each side of the car may be supplanted by an elongated single section hinged to each side rail and be retained in an open position by a single pin 13.

A chute is secured at each side of the car to underlie the opening caused by opening of the sections 11 and is secured to the central beam 10 and braced by reinforcing bars 17 extending transversely of the car and secured to the chutes upon the bottom sides thereof. These chutes are of course inclined Cir ,. freight and other commodities not -necessi-* --edge tooneside of the car in a manner so :thereof at spaced intervals and connecting rest'upon the upper edge of one side of the of the car.

'side of the car.

outwardly of the car so that the contents thereof may be readily discharged from either side of the car and to maintain the contents within the chutes when the sections '11 are raised or opened, closures 18 for the chutes are hinged to the underside of the side sills 7 and their free edges are retained in engagement with the chutes by spring clips or catches 19,.

In order that the contents of the car may be readily discharged through the chutes 16, auxiliary chute boards or plates 20 are hinged at their upper edges to the interior faces of the ends of the car at 21 in a manner so that the plates will be inclined downwardly and toward the chute 16 and the ifree'edges of the plate'QO will overlap the transverse'edges of the opening in the floor These plates are supported in this position when the car is used forcarrying coal and other heavy loose material by transversely extending bars 22 fastened to oppositesidesof the-car. Of course, it will be obvious that the plates may be swung to be arranged in close proximity to the ends of the car when used for hauling 'tating the use-of thechutes 16.

The roof 23 0f the car is an integral structure and is hinged along one longitudinal that the roof may be opened from either This function is accomplished by providing hinges 24 along one side of the car adjacent the upper edges corresponding ends of brace rods 32 thereto.

It will be noted that the pivotal connections between the corresponding ends of the rods 32 and the car'are arranged'beyond the side of the car, so that portions of the rods adjacent pivotal connections withthe car may car. It is also to be noted that these ends of the brace rods are not connected to the roof 23, but are free therefrom so that the roof may swing open independently of the brace rods.

Theother ends of said brace rods 32 are pivotally connected at'29 by bolts 30 to the other side of theroof 23, it being noted that these pivotal connections are also arranged beyond the side'of the car so'that the brace rods 32 may rest upon the side of the car adjacent this side of the roof and further- -more that these ends of the brace rods are not connected to the side of the car. Con-' sequently, the roof and brace rods form a posite ends of the rods are pivotally coninec ted-only with the roof. From the foregoihgdescription it will be obvious'that the car upon its sides.

'vention. I that-such changesmay be made in construcfrom opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of the roof are depending rods 35 which extend and are slidably engaged through clamps 36, so that when the roof is raised, the clamps 36 may be tightened about the rod to maintain the roof in a raised position.

Additional :means'lfor clamping the roof upon the side edges of the car, consist of eye bolts 37 pivotallyconnectedlto opposite .sides-of thecar and their threaded-shanks being adapted to pass through kerfs or slots 33 in the edgesof the roof ofthe car when in a closed position. A nut 39 :is threaded 'upon eacheye bolt to b'e'ar 'againsta washer 40 when the bolt extends through its respective slot in order to clamp thereof of the However, when it is desired to raise the roof, the nuts 39 are loosened sufliciently whereby the eye bolts disengaged from the car.

Hooks 41 are secured to the edges of the roof whereby suitable means such as a crane may be connectedwith the roof for'swingingthe same. b i

The foregoing description and the accompanying drawings have reference to the preferred or approved embodiment of my in- It is to be understood, however,

tion and arrangement of parts, materials, dimensions, etc., as may'prove expedient and fall withinthe scope of the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The combination witha car 'andaone piece top therefor; of means cooperating with the top and car and forming a double hinge with the top whereby "the top will open from either side of the car.

2.5Dhecomb1nat1on with a car, a one piece top movably associated "therewith; of 'means extending transversely ofthe top and pivotally connected at one. end "to one side of the top and at :the other end to :the op- .posite side of the car.

3. The combination with a car, :a one piece top ZLSSOClfitQCltllGlQWlth, rods pivotally associated with one side of the top and also with the opposite side .ofthe car.

4. The combination with a car, a one P1866 :top 'movably'associated therewith, rods connected at corresponding ends with one side of the roof and at the opposite ends to the side of the car, whereby the roof pivots at either side of the car.

5. The combination With a car, a one piece top movably associated therewith, of brace rods extending transversely of the car and adapted to normally rest upon the sides thereof, corresponding ends of the rods being pivotally associated With one side of the top and the opposite ends of the rods being pivotally connected to the side of the car opposite that side adjacent the side of the roof to Which the rods are pivotally connected.

6. A railway car having a top capable of swinging from either side thereof, the side edges of the top being provided with slots, and said car being equipped with pivoted clamps adapted to enter the slots of the top for retaining the same in closed position.

MARTIN J. WHELAN. 

